Oxford University to use postcodes to boost admissions from poorer students

Oxford University is to grant more interviews to students from poor areas by taking into account applicants' postcodes, it has been announced.

Admissions tutors will consider the address of the family home during the selection process to identify those living in deprived neighbourhoods.

It follows accusations of elitism at the ancient institution, which admits just one-in-10 students from poor homes compared to almost a third at other universities.

One study last year found that sixth-formers were twice as likely to get into Oxford and Cambridge if they attended top private schools, irrespective of their A-level results, prompting criticism from ministers that top universities display "social bias" against deprived pupils.

But the move has prompted accusations that the university is attempting to carry out "social engineering".

Critics have condemned the latest move, branding it a "postcode lottery for education" which would judge young people by social background and not ability.

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The aim of the scheme, which will be implemented later this year, is to identify the brightest students with the greatest potential to succeed.

Mike Nicholson, Oxford's admissions director said: "Using grades alone is too crude. I want to make sure that, if students are applying from places that have very few people progressing into higher education, we recognise that they are breaking the mould."

In addition to looking at a candidate's postcode, Oxford will also collect four more pieces of "publicly available" information - the performance of applicants' schools in both GCSEs and A-Levels, whether a pupil looked after or spent time in care, and it they attended specific programmes for disadvantaged children.

Candidates who are flagged up in three categories out of the five - and are academically strong enough - will be guaranteed an interview at Oxford, although not necessarily an offer.

But the decision has been met with anger from educationalists.

Martin Stephen, high master of St Paul's, west London, told the Daily Telegraph: "We have enough of a postcode lottery in our health service, we don't need one in our education system.

"This is a morally and deeply offensive decision and 18 year olds should only be judged on their ability and not on their social background. We can't patronise young people."

Dr Stephen added: "The real issues is that the Government is fudging its responsibility and universities are being forced to compensate young people. We cannot compensate 18 year old who have been inadequately prepared. The Government has let down young people by not making every school a good school."

Other critics say middle-class applicants will be unfairly disadvantaged by the proposals.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University said: "Alex Ferguson needs to make judgments based on football ability and Oxford needs to make judgment on intellectual ability," he said "The only issue should be the talent of the person. The Government is keen on social engineering and [Oxford] university seems to be bowing to that."

It has already been suggested that parents could try to beat the new system at Oxford by renting homes in poor areas before their children apply. Some say that even the use of post codes was not an accurate indication of background, as many wealthy families lived in areas with a post code associated with a deprived area.

The decision by Oxford University follows the Government's push for a greater social mix in universities.

A report by the National Council for Educational Excellence in June recommended "contextual data" after claims that applicants from state schools are being let down by the system.

According to the report commissioned by Gordon Brown, children from poorer backgrounds account for only 29 per cent of all students. At Oxford and Cambridge the level is even lower, at 9.8 and 11.9 per cent respectively.

Geoff Lucas, secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, said: "I believe the approach Oxford University is taking is an intelligent and responsive use of contextual data. The process should provide a safety net, helping to ensure nobody with potential is overlooked before they are given the chance to show their strengths at interview and compete for admission alongside other candidates."